Page 49 of Forever, Maybe
Nell blinked, caught off guard. This wasn’t remotely what she’d expected. But the thought of leaving the council and its soul-sucking bureaucracy sent a jolt of excitement through her. A smaller company meant fewer layers of red tape and more room for creativity. The idea of never designing another leaflet about paying council tax or picking up dog poo was downright thrilling.
Stephanie pursed her lips, assessing him. “What’s the pay like?”
Jamie spread his hands in a gesture of mock helplessness. “Naturally, I’m not privy to those details. Marcus handles that.”
Nell vaguely remembered Marcus—the sharp-suited owner of White Lightning—from a brief introduction at the council.
“But,” Jamie continued, a faint smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth, “when he asks what you’re earning now, add at least five grand. The company has the budget to match it.”
Stephanie leaned back, considering. “Tempting,” she said, though her tone was carefully noncommittal.
Jamie downed the rest of his wine and stood, smoothing his suit. “Well, ladies, I’ll leave you to your evening. Think it over and let me know.”
Nell walked Jamie to the front door. He leaned in and kissed her cheek, the musky scent of his cinnamon aftershave lingering—a stark contrast to Danny’s preference for light, citrusy colognes. “Think about the offer carefully, won’t you?”
“Will do,” she replied, watching as he bounded down the stairs, phone already in hand. His voice carried back to her as he started a call, peppered with phrases like“darling”and“you saucy minx.”
Ten out of ten, whoever he was speaking to wasn’t his wife.
Closing the door, Nell returned to the living room, where Stephanie lay sprawled on the floor, playing with the now wide-awake kitten.
“Well, what do you make of that?” Nell asked, settling into the armchair. The job offer seemed almost too good to be true—but maybe, just maybe, it wasn’t.
Stephanie dangled a feather toy in front of the kitten, which pounced with enthusiasm. “It would fit into my long-term plan,” she replied, her tone thoughtful.
Stephanie was far more driven than Nell. Every year, she created a meticulous plan outlining where she wanted to be career-wise in twelve months. Since joining the council, she’d already earned two promotions.
“How so?” Nell asked.
“If I spend a couple of years with White Lightning, I’ll be in contact with loads of different companies. If I establish a good rapport with enough people, when I go freelance, I can take those clients with me.”
The kitten, growing bored of the feather toy, trotted out of the living room. A faint crunching noise from the kitchen indicated that he’d found his biscuits.
“You could do the same,” Stephanie added, sitting up and brushing a strand of hair from her face. “And you wouldn’t need as many clients as I would because you’ve got Daniel’s money to back you up.”
Nell stiffened slightly but didn’t respond immediately. It wasn’t the first time Stephanie had made a comment like that, and while Nell knew it wasn’t meant unkindly, it always left her feeling… unsettled.
Her friend was right, though. Freelancing would be much easier for someone with a partner bringing in a steady income. And it wasn’t just about the financial cushion—it would give Nell the freedom to finally focus on her real passion: creating the charcoal landscapes she’d loved so much back in art school. The thought stirred a flicker of excitement, one she hadn’t felt in years.
“Not sure I relish the thought of working alongside King Slime, though,” Stephanie added, wrinkling her nose.
“No,” Nell murmured. But Jamie was all bark, no bite. She’d manage.
By the time they’d polished off a bottle of wine, they’d both reached the same conclusion. On Monday morning, they would hand in their resignations.
Nell snuggled into the armchair, swirling the last sip of wine in her glass. The prospect of leaving the council— farewell dreary routines and endless bureaucracy—felt surreal.
“A new chapter,” Stephanie said, raising her glass in a mock toast.
Nell smiled, clinking her glass against her friend’s. A new chapter, indeed.
Chapter twenty
April2016
The morning of the party dawned bright and sunny, much to Daniel’s relief. Pulling back the bedroom curtains, he was greeted by a cloudless blue sky and golden sunlight that brought every colour in the garden to vivid life. Their house could comfortably accommodate plenty of guests, but it was always easier when the crowd spilled outside—something the weather was mercifully encouraging.
Nell had suggested the annual party years ago, a way of showing appreciation to allStuffed!’s employees, along with their friends and families, before the chaos of the summer festival season consumed them. It had become a tradition. They opened their home and filled it with limitless booze and enough food to soak it all up.
